Infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) advice

Hospital based care

• COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Decision Matrix Protocol (PDF 65KB)

This document provides advice on what personal protective equipment (PPE) is required and what type of room is appropriate for the patient.

The matrix has been developed by SA Health Infectious Disease Physicians for use in the care of hospital patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19. It is mandatory for all SA Health hospital-based staff.

Refer to the Australian Government Department of Health Australian Government Department of Health Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19.

Non-hospital based care

The following PPE guides/infographics provide advice for those who work in industries who may be close contact with community members as part of their role. They provide a process for assessing COVID-19 infection control risk and PPE usage.

Aged care

• Aged care restrictions and infection control training (SA Health)

The use of a particulate filter respirator may be required for the care of a resident with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.  Refer to the Australian Government Department of Health advice:

• Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines for infection prevention and control in residential care facilities
• CDNA national guidelines for the prevention, control and public health management of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential care facilities in Australia

Allied Health Professionals and GPs

• Allied Health and GP PPE guide (PDF 82KB)

Child Protection Services

• Child Protection PPE guide (PDF 131KB)

Correction Services and Sheriff’s Office

• Correction Services and Sheriff’s Office PPE guide (PDF 188KB)

Disability care providers

• Primary and Community HCW PPE guide

Refer to the Australian Government Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for the health and disability sector web page.

Emergency services

• Emergency services (SES MFS and SES) PPE guide (PDF 189KB)

Marine industry

The marine industry PPE and infection control practice matrix and recommendations(PDF 116KB) provides advice for persons boarding and leaving a maritime vessel which has recently returned from overseas or a high community transmission zone (excluding cruise ships).

Refer to the Australian Government Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for the marine industry web page.

Primary and Community Healthcare Workers in a non-hospital setting

• Primary and Community HCW PPE guide (PDF 91KB)
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Primary Health Care Services (ACCHS) PPE guide (PDF 233KB)
  

The COVID 19 fact sheet - Infection control advice for community-based service providers (PDF 255KB) provides general infection control advice and guidance for use of PPE for community-based services in the setting of COVID-19.

Also refer to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guide for Home Care Providers for guidance for aged care and disability service providers who offer home care and support services on how to stay safe from COVID-19.

Security personnel

• Security personnel PPE guide (PDF 93KB)

SA Police

• SA Police PPE guide (PDF 119KB)

PPE and infection control education resources

Infographics, posters and fact sheets

PPE donning and doffing:

• Sequence for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) PPE (PDF 242KB) (SA Health Infographic)
• Sequencing for donning (putting on) and doffing (putting off) PPE (PDF 2MB) (SA Health Infographic)
• Sequencing for donning (putting on) and doffing (putting off) PPE - Coveralls (PDF 2MB) (SA Health Infographic)

PFR (i.e. P2/N95 or equivalent) donning, fit checking and doffing:

• P2/N95 respirator (flat or cupped) donning and fit checking (PDF 501KB) (SA Health fact sheet).
• Donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) the D95 respirator mask (PDF 439KB)
• D95 Surgical Respirator by Detmold Medical FAQ (PDF 960KB) (SA Health fact sheet).

PPE donning and doffing step signage:

• PPE sequence with PFR (PDF 949KB) (SA Health infographic)
• PPE sequence with surgical mask (PDF 1.1MB) (SA Health infographic)
• PPE sequence with PFR and headwear (PDF 1.4MB) (SA Health infographic)
• PPE sequence with surgical mask and headwear (PDF 1.1MB) (SA Health infographic)

Educational videos

• Personal Protective Equipment (The University of Adelaide - Adelaide Health Simulation videos)
  • Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal swab collection
  • Airborne precautions (donning and doffing)
  • Contact precautions (donning and doffing)
  • Droplet precautions (donning and doffing)
  • Hand sanitising
  • Hand washing
• How to handwash? With soap and water (WHO video)
• How to handrub? With alcohol-based formulation (WHO video)
• Cross-contamination while using disposable gloves (SA Health video)
• Donning and fit checking of respirator (NSW Clinical Excellence Commission video)

Education resources

• Infection Prevention and Control & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) education session (PDF 1MB) (SA Health PowerPoint)
• Particulate Filter Respirators (PFR) education session (PDF 1.1MB) (SA Health PowerPoint)
  
• COVID-19 Infection Control Training (Australian Government modules)
• Infection control education and training (SA Health webpage)
• PPE training tool for general, including healthcare workers (SA Health training tools)

Additional resources

• National guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19 (Australian Government guideline)
• The use of face masks and respirators in the context of COVID-19 (Australian Government fact sheet)
• Hand Hygiene – how to wash or sanitise your hands (SA Health webpage).

Procurement and supply strategies

For information regarding extended use of personal protective equipment refer to the following resources:

• The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019)
• SA Health Respiratory Protection Against Airborne Infectious Diseases Clinical Guideline
• Australian Government Department of Health Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19 webpage.

For enquires regarding procurement advice and assistance please email SA Health Procurement customer service HealthPSCMSCOCustomerService@sa.gov.au.

Waste management

For information on COVID-19 waste management refer to the SA Health COVID-19 waste management for healthcare facilities, community healthcare, residential care facilities, Medi-hotels, COVID-19 testing clinics, airports and home environments factsheet (PDF 142KB)